Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Conscience

Just yesterday I blogged about Mayor Chavez's lack of environmental protection vision for Albuquerque's quality of life. I still think he can change his philosophy to understand how important this is for our city's future. His job is tougher now with his partial victory in court yesterday that clears more obstacles to the splitting of the Petroglyph National Monument with a highway.

This is a loss for Albuquerque in the long run. We should be happy that the west face of the Sandia Mountains was put under protection years ago by a much more visionary city leadership, or we might see roads diagonally slashing their way halfway up the mountain today.

I feel being in opposition to the Paseo del Norte highway through the Petroglyphs doesn't mean you are anti growth or anti economic development. I think it is about limits and decency.

It remains to be seen if there will be fall out from our Pueblo neighbors as we get ready to disrupt an area that they deem sacred. I frankly don't know what you can say to them at this point that would mean anything. Whether you support the road or not many people might have a little bit of a guilty conscience right now. Or maybe not.

Conscience is thoroughly well-bred and soon leaves off talking to thosewho do not wish to hear it. Samuel Butler

1 comment:

I was sick to my stomach seeing the News Report done about the extension of Paseo del Norte which will cut through the petroglyphs. Some city councilman was praising this decision saying that this decision was going to make it easier for people to get to their homes and place of employment which were located on the other side of the petroglyphs. I couldn't help but think, "Location, location, location". Isn't it the first rule of house buying thumb to pick a home in a location that best suits your needs? And NOT the other way around?

Yet another piece of our history and ancestry down the toilet. What a shame. *shaking head*

About Me

Jim Baca has a strong record of visionary service to New Mexico. He retired as the State of New Mexico's Natural Resource Trustee 1n 2010. He has served as Mayor of the City of Albuquerque, as well as two prior terms as New Mexico’s elected State Land Commissioner. He served as the Director of the National Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior in the first Clinton Administration. Jim Baca also serves on the Boards of numerous non profit organizations including The Wilderness Society and the Wyss Foundation and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.
Baca has run a successful public affairs consulting practice when not serving in public office. He spends his retirement playing golf, attending board meetings, and generally doing what ever he wants to do.